It’s evening and a gentle breeze is blowing. People are gathered at Mpho’s house for a special occasion – it’s her eighteenth birthday. Everyone has been invited, well everyone except for one person, who is not on the list: Seipati.
Seipati is family enemy number one. She causes havoc wherever she is. She literally has the ability to ruin everything. She has wrecked many homes with only her tongue.
In the living room music is booming out of the sound system, playing a house track, Changes in My Life. Mpho and the other teenagers are standing in a circle out in the yard, shaking what their mamas gave them.
Mpho loves her friends, especially Palesa. They have been friends since forever and both love dancing; it gives them energy and life. But now, all of the girls are one excited, happy bunch. One by one they are called into the centre of the circle. One by one they enter, each with her own moves.
Inside the house, Basetsana, Mpho’s mom, is sitting on the royal blue couch, sipping tea with Gogo, who is chatting nonstop. She is giving Basetsana one of her lectures on how to be a good wife.
“Mntan’am, you need to always be beside your husband,” says Gogo.
“You know I am always supportive of my husband,” says Basetsana.
“My child, I am not talking about being supportive only. I am talking about being honest. I am talking about keeping no secrets from your husband. Mpho is turning 18.”
“Secrets Mama? What–”
She is interrupted by a loud banging on the door. When Basetsana opens up Seipati is there on the doorstep, very drunk. All eyes are instantly on her.
“Look at you having fun without me. Yi-party enjani engena Seipati? Seipati is the life of the party. Don’t you know there is no party without Seipati!”
Everyone bursts out laughing.
“Nywe, Nywe, you are all laughing. If I were you, I wouldn’t be showing my teeth. You are all fake people,” Seipati slurs drunkenly. “I hear it is my niece’s eighteenth birthday and I am not invited. Well, I’ll show you what happens when I’m not invited.”
Basetsana flushes with anger. “Seipati, stop with your nonsense,” she says.
“You are the last one to talk, of all people,” says Seipati.
“I am the last one to talk?”
“Yes, you.” Seipati staggers and tries to stop herself from toppling over.
“Mxm!” Basetsana is irritated and shows it.
“You think you are better than all of us. Have you told everyone your secret yet?” Seipati bursts out.
“My secret?” Basetsana asks, acting puzzled. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t act all confused. You know very well what I am talking about,” says Seipati. Basetsana’s eyes open wide in shock. “Does everyone here know that you are a lying cheat?” continues Seipati.
“Don’t come here throwing insults in my house. My life is none of your business,” says Basetsana.
“I am not insulting you. I am just telling the truth – and as you know, the truth hurts,” says Seipati. “Don’t forget I am family. Your husband is my brother. It is my business and it is time you told him the truth. Your daughter is turning 18 and she has the right to know.”
***
Tell us: Will people believe what a mean, drunk person says?